Panic bar stiffener

ABSTRACT

An emergency-exit door provided with a latch mechanism including a panic bar adapted to be pushed to raise upper and lower vertical actuating rods which in turn release upper and lower latch bolts so that the door can be opened. Biasing devices are removably installed in the hinge arms of the panic bar to increase the pressure required to actuate the latch mechanism during times when it is desirable to discourage persons from using the emergency-exit door as an exit from a building when no emergency exists.

United States Patent McFarlane Feb.29, 1972 [54] PANIC BAR STIFFENER [72] Inventor: William F. McFarlane, Van Nuys, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Hally Stamping 81 Manuiacturlng Company, Los Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1970 [211 App]. No.2 62,273

[52] US. Cl. ..292/2l, 292/92, 292/DIG. 61 [51 Int. Cl. ..E05c 9/04, EOSc 15/02 [58] FieldofSearch ..292/2l,92, 93,288, DIG. 61;

' 70/92, DIG. 52, DIG. 53, DIG. 54, DIG. 55

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,440 2/1958 Jewett ...70/92 1,529,865 3/1925 Bolles ..292/92 1,536,829 5/1925 Dyer .292/92 1,056,937 3/1913 Pratt ..292/92 1,386,551 8/1921 Bumbarger 292/195 3,073,142 1/1963 Stebbins ..70/92 3,123,387 3/1964 Jackson ...292/21 1,145,590 7/1915 Hurd ..292/21 I Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney-Beehler & Arant ABSTRACT An emergency-exit door provided with a latch mechanism including a panic bar adapted to be pushed to raise upper and lower vertical actuating rods which in turn release upper and lower latch bolts so that the door can be opened. Biasing devices are removably installed in the hinge arms of the panic bar to increase the pressure required to actuate the latch mechanism during times when it is desirable to discourage persons from using the emergency-exit door as an exit from a building when no emergency exists.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PANIC BAR STIIFFENER This invention relates generally to latch mechanisms for emergency-exit doors and more particularly to simply installed biasing devices for controlling the amount of pressure required to release such a latch mechanism so as to be able to open the door.

Latch mechanisms of the type disclosed herein are often provided on emergency-exit doors of public or institutional buildings where there may be a need for a relatively large number of people to quickly leave the building. Such latch mechanisms are often termed panic devices in that they employ a relatively long horizontal crossbar or panic bar on the inside of the door which serves to unlatch or retract upper and lower latch bolts when the crossbar is pushed, or even leaned against, so that the door will immediately swing to a wide open position. Such latch mechanisms are usually intended to be capable of being released quickly and with a minimum of manipulation on the part of persons desiring to open the door.

When using such panic devices on doors of certain buildings, however, it should appreciated that there are times when it would actually be desirable to be able to lock such a door so as to restrict persons from leaving the building by using the door as an ordinary exit during certain hours of the day. Under such circumstances it may be possible to electronically control the emergency-exit door during the restricted period, for, example, such that it cannot be manually opened from the inside by pushing on the panic bar. However, such a control arrangement defeats the very purpose of the panic device since in the case of emergency it is mandatory that the door be able to be opened manually in this manner. That is, by yielding to opening pressure placed on the panic bar.

The present invention provides for easily installing biasing devices on the arms of the panic bar when it is desired to restrict or at least discourage persons in the building from using the emergency-exit door as an exit from the building when no emergency exists. Thus, the biasing devices offer a sufficiently high resistance to depressing or pivoting of the panic bar on the latch mechanism such that merely leaning against the panic bar or even pushing the panic bar with ordinary effort will not enable the door to be opened. However, if

an emergency were to exist where it was crucial that the door be opened, the additional effort that would be made by persons to manually push against the panic bar because of the emergency situation, would be sufiicient to overcome the resistance of the biasing devices and enable the door to swing to a wide open position.

It should be noted that the biasing devices contemplated by the present invention are intended to be easily installed on or removed from the arms of the panic bar such that during the hours of the day when persons in the building are more likely to be policed, or permitted to have more freedom, the biasing devices could easily be removed such that the door would then function as a conventional emergency-exit door which could be pushed open by merely leaning on the panic bar. Then when it was found desirable to again restrict the use of the door, the biasing devices could again be easily reinstalled and the door would then only be opened by exerting considerably more effort than would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit for the building, for example.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide for simply modifying a convention emergency-exit door such that it requires a greater force than would ordinarily be required to push open the door.

Another object of the present invention is to provide biasing devices which can be easily mounted to bias the arms of the panic bar on an emergency-exit door to increase the amount of pressure required to push open a door and thus discourage persons from exiting through the door unless an emergency situation arises.

Another object of the present invention is to be able to simply vary the amount of pressure needed to manually depressa panic bar on an emergency-exit door to enable the door to be pushed open.

These and other objects of the present invention, together with the features and advantages thereof, will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

DETAILED DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an emergency'exit door showing a panic bar for a latch mechanism with biasing devices of the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a biasing device installed on a hinge armof the panic bar;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a biasing device taken in the direction of the arrows along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the elements comprising a biasing device; and

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of another embodiment of a biasing device shown installed on a hinge arm of a panic bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, an emergency-exit door 10 is shown mounted in a frame 12. Side 13. of the door 10 is provided with vertically spaced hinges 14 about which the door 10 swings when opened. A latch mechanism for the door 10 is mounted on the inside face thereof. The latch mechanism includes a horizontal crossbar or panic bar 19 adapted to be pushed to raise upper and lower vertical actuating rods 38 and 39 which in turn release respective upper and lower latch bolts 25 and 28 so that the door 10 can be opened.

An upper latch housing 24 for the upper latch bolt 25 is located near the top edge 15 at the door 10 and adjacent its free-swinging side edge 16 and a lower latch housing 27 for the lower latch bolt 28 is located adjacent the bottom edge 17 of the door 10 and also adjacent its free-swing side edge 16. Provided on the frame 12 above the door is a retainer plate 20 against which the upper latch bolt 25 is positioned when the door 10 is latched shut, and secured on the floor below the door 10 is a threshold 21 which is provided with a transversely extended retainer flange 22 in which lower latch bolt 28 is positioned when the door 10 is latched shut.

Intermediate the upper and lower latch housings 24 and 27 near side 16 of the door 10 is located what is commonly designated as an active case 30 on which is pivotally mounted a hinge arm 32 which supports one end of the panic bar 19. On the other side of the door 10 near the hinge side 13 thereof is located hinge case 31 on which is pivotally mounted hinge arm 33 which supports the other end of the panic bar 19. As shown in FIG. 2, the hinge arm 32 is pivotally mounted on pin 37 supported on case 30 with an extension 34 of the arm 32 extending into the case 30 such that when the panic bar 19 is pushed against, the extension 34 will act against a bracket 35 on plate 36 within active case 30 to lift plate 36 and thereby also lift the upper actuating rod 38 and the lower actuating rod 39, both of which are attached to the plate 36. In a manner well understood in the art, lifting the upper actuating rod 38 serves to withdraw the upper latch bolt 25 from its position against retainer plate 20 while the simultaneous lifting of the lower actuating rod 39 serves to withdraw the lower latch bolt 28 from its position in retainer flange 22 such that the door 10 is no longer held shut.

It should thus be clearly understood that the panic bar 19 has a connection with the upper and lower actuating rods 38 and 39 and operates in such a manner that when the panic bar 19 is manually pushed, the rods 38 and 39 are raised to actuate the latch mechanism which serves to unlatch or retract upper and lower latch bolts 25 and 28 so that the door ltlwill immediately swing to a wide open position.

It should be further understood that normally such exit devices or panic devices are intended to be capable of being released quickly and with a minimum of manipulation on the part of persons desiring to open the door. Ordinarily, merely nun: Ann

leaning against the panic bar provides sufficient pressure thereagainst to push open the door. The biasing devices of the present invention which are installed on the hinge arms 32 and 33 are employed to increase the force of pressure needed to depress the panic bar 19 so as to open the door 10. These biasing devices are designated in FIG. 1 by reference numerals 41 and, as noted, one of these devices 41 is preferably positioned to act against the underside of each of the hinge arms 32 and 33 connected to the end of panic bar 19.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, biasing device 41 comprises a sleeve 43 slidable within a housing 45. The sleeve 43 is provided with a pin 47 extending to the center thereof. Pin 47 has a head 48 which is inwardly nested .on the outer end of sleeve 43 to hold the pin in position. The pin 47 extends beyond the inner end 42 of sleeve 43 so as to provide a support and guide for a spring 50 which is positioned in part within the sleeve 43 and in part within the housing 45. The spring 50 is of such a length that when it is in its free position the ends of the spring prevent the sleeve 43 and housing 45 from moving inwardly towards eachother. When the ends of the biasing device 41 are forced together by pushing on the panic bar 19, the spring 50 is compressed. This brings the sleeve 43 and housing 45 together such that the end 42 of the sleeve 43 approaches the shoulder 46 provided on the inside wall of the housing 45. g I

Several washers 52 are located on the inner end of the pin 47 on biasing device 41. The removal or addition of washers 52 varies the pressure that must be exerted on the panic bar 19 and consequently the outer end of the sleeve 43 and the outer end of housing 45 in order to bring them together. For example, removal of one of the washers 52 will reduce the force required to activate the panic bar 19 and thus open the door, while adding a washer 52 will increase the force required to open the door.

In accordance with the present invention, the three washers 52 on the pin 47 with a properly selected spring 50 could typically require that a force up to as much as 80 pounds be exerted on the panic bar 19 before-it can be depressed or pushed toward the door so as to unlatch the latch mechanism. It should be appreciated that the exertion required to overcome an 80-pound horizontal force is more than a person would ordinarily use in order to exit through the emergency-exit door if no emergency exists. However, if an emergency were to exist, the additional effort that would be made by persons to manually push against the panic bar 19 would be sufiicient to enable the door 10 to swing wide open.

It should be noted that the projection 54 on the end of the head 48 of pin 47 and the projection 55 on the end of housing 45 enable the biasing device 41 to be easily snapped in respective openings 56 and 57 provided on the wall of active case 30 and on the inside lower portion of the hinge arm 32 so as to hold the biasing device in position against the hinge arm 32. A biasing device 41 is similarly held in position against the hinge arm 33. The biasing devices 41 on either end of the panic bar 19 thus provide means which can be easily installed when it is desirable to increase the amount of pressure or force needed to be exerted against the panic bar 19 in order to open the door It A modified embodiment 59 of the biasing device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. Here the spring 60 for resisting the force on the panic bar 19 for rotating the hinge arm 32 is positioned in a sleeve 61 preferably secured within the active case 30. The spring 60, similarly to the showing in FIG. 2, is supported and guided on pin 62 which extends up into the sleeve 61. A projection 64 formed on the head 65 of the pin 62 is held in an opening 67 on the upper side of an extension 34 provided on hinge arm 32. As before, in order to enable the hinge arm 32 to pivot about its pivot pin 37 such as to lift the actuating rods 38 and 39 and to retract the latch bolts 25 and 26, sufficient pressure must be exerted on the panic bar 19 so as to overcome the resistance of spring 60. Note here that the biasing device 59 can be easily installed or removed from its position on hinge arm 32 by positioning springs 60 into sleeve 61 and snapping projection 64 formed on the head of the pin 62 into or out of the opening 67 provided on the upper side of extension 34 provided on hinge arm 32. The embodiment of the biasing device 59 shown in FIG. 5 has the advantage of being concealed within the active case 30.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described and possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form proportions, detailed construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred forms of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the ligitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In a latch'mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar to said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be -raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes at least one unitary biasing device on one of the hinge arms of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing device being auxiliary to and operable independent of the latch mechanism, a releasable engagement between said hinge arm and one end of said biasing device comprising an opening in the hinge arm and a projection on the biasing device receivable in the opening, said biasing device being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arm, whereby when said biasing device is installed on said hinge arm the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar than would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing device is removed from said hinge arm the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar.

2. The combination in accordance'with claim 1 wherein each said biasing device includes a spring, and a telescopic housing assembly for said spring, and each said biasing device can be installed to bias the panic bar away from the door by holding the opposite ends of its housing assembly respectively against said hinge arm and the support means therefor.

3. In a latch mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar to said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes at least one biasing device on the hinge arm of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing device being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arm, whereby when said biasing device is installed on said hinge arm the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar then would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing device is removed from said hinge arm the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar, said biasing device including a spring, a housing, a sleeve guide for the spring slideable within said housing, and projections on the ends of housing and said sleeve guide.

. 4. In a latch mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar to said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes biasing devices on the hinge arms of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing devices being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arms, whereby when said biasing devices are installed on said hinge arms the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar than would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing devices are removed from said hinge arms the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar,

each said biasing device comprising a housing, a spring assembly aligned to move within said housing when compressed, and projections on the outer ends of said spring assembly and said housing, said biasing device capable of being installed to bias the panic bar away from the door by snapping the projections thereof into recesses provided on the hinge arm and the support means therefor.

5. In a latch mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar to said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes biasing devices on the hinge arms of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing devices being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arms, whereby when said biasing devices are installed on said hinge arms the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar than would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing devices are removed from said hinge arms the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar, each said biasing device comprising a housing, a spring assembly aligned to move within said housing when compressed, and a projection on the end of said biasing device, said biasing device capable of being installed to bias the panic bar away from the door by snapping the projection on the end thereof into an opening provided on the hinge arm.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said spring assembly comprises a sleeve, a pin provided with a head, said pin extending through said sleeve with the head thereof nested against the outer end thereof, and a spring on said pin to be guided thereby, said spring having a length which normally separates said sleeve from said housing, and projections on the head of said pin and the outer end of said housing, whereby said biasing device can be mounted to bias the panic bar away from said door by snapping the projections on the ends thereof into respective openings provided on the underside of the hinge arm and the support therefor.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein the inner end of the pin is PLOVlSCd kWltlI a plurality of washers. 

1. In a latch mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar to said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes at least one unitary biasing device on one of the hinge arms of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing device being auxiliary to and operable independent of the latch mechanism, a releasable engagement between said hinge arm and one end of said biasing device comprising an opening in the hinge arm and a projection on the biasing device receivable in the opening, said biasing device being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arm, whereby when said biasing device is insTalled on said hinge arm the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar than would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing device is removed from said hinge arm the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar.
 2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said biasing device includes a spring, and a telescopic housing assembly for said spring, and each said biasing device can be installed to bias the panic bar away from the door by holding the opposite ends of its housing assembly respectively against said hinge arm and the support means therefor.
 3. In a latch mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar to said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes at least one biasing device on the hinge arm of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing device being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arm, whereby when said biasing device is installed on said hinge arm the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar then would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing device is removed from said hinge arm the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar, said biasing device including a spring, a housing, a sleeve guide for the spring slideable within said housing, and projections on the ends of housing and said sleeve guide.
 4. In a latch mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar to said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes biasing devices on the hinge arms of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing devices being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arms, whereby when said biasing devices are installed on said hinge arms the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar than would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing devices are removed from said hinge arms the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar, each said biasing device comprising a housing, a spring assembly aligned to move within said housing when compressed, and projections on the outer ends of said spring assembly and said housing, said biasing device capable of being installed to bias the panic bar away from the door by snapping the projections thereof into recesses provided on the hinge arm and the support means therefor.
 5. In a latch mechanism for an emergency-exit door adapted to be mounted on a door frame comprising a panic bar, hinge arms including support means for pivotally attaching said panic bar To said door, upper and lower actuating rods adapted to be raised by the depressing of said panic bar toward said door, and upper and lower latch bolts operable when the door is closed for latching said door to said door frame, said upper and lower latch bolts adapted to be released to unlatch said door from said door frame by the moving of said upper and lower actuating rods in a vertical direction, the combination which includes biasing devices on the hinge arms of the panic bar for biasing said panic bar away from said door, said biasing devices being readily installable on and removable from said hinge arms, whereby when said biasing devices are installed on said hinge arms the door can only be pushed open by exerting a greater pressure against the panic bar than would be used by a person merely interested in using the door as an ordinary exit, and whereby when said biasing devices are removed from said hinge arms the door can be operated as a conventional emergency-exit door which can be pushed open by a person merely leaning against the panic bar, each said biasing device comprising a housing, a spring assembly aligned to move within said housing when compressed, and a projection on the end of said biasing device, said biasing device capable of being installed to bias the panic bar away from the door by snapping the projection on the end thereof into an opening provided on the hinge arm.
 6. The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said spring assembly comprises a sleeve, a pin provided with a head, said pin extending through said sleeve with the head thereof nested against the outer end thereof, and a spring on said pin to be guided thereby, said spring having a length which normally separates said sleeve from said housing, and projections on the head of said pin and the outer end of said housing, whereby said biasing device can be mounted to bias the panic bar away from said door by snapping the projections on the ends thereof into respective openings provided on the underside of the hinge arm and the support therefor.
 7. The combination in accordance with claim 6, wherein the inner end of the pin is provided with a plurality of washers. 